Local News

ALBUQUERQUE — Proposed changes to state retirement funds may prompt hundreds of Albuquerque police officers to retire and spark an officer shortage in New Mexico’s largest city.

Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said the city could lose around 200 officers to retirement in a few months, KOAT-TV reported. Those retirements would reduce the department’s workforce to around 800, Schultz said.

Rediscover the night sky with Gloria Begay during Navajo (Diné) Star Stories starting at 6 p.m. this Saturday at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge. It will be a night of star gazing and learning. For more information, contact Kristin Hsueh at 426-3204 or e-mail at khsueh@desertgate.com.

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration is moving ahead to establish a state-run clearinghouse to help small businesses and tens of thousands of individuals find affordable health insurance they currently lack.

A fight over the exchange, however, could break out in next year’s Legislature.

Coin flip could settle tied race
LAS CRUCES — A tie in a race for a New Mexico House of Representatives seat could end up being broken by a coin flip or other game of chance.
The race between Democrat Joanne Ferrary and incumbent Republican Terry McMillan for the 37th District seat ended with an even split of more than 12,000 votes.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that if a recount leaves the race still even New Mexico law requires a game of chance be used as a tie-breaker.

Bealls Department Store will be open from 8 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving, giving shoppers an early opportunity to take advantage of deals and giveaways typically reserved for Black Friday, according to a news release from the store’s parent company.

Bealls will re-open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday with additional door busters and giveaways.

A mysterious rotten-egg odor once again prompted the evacuation of Memorial Middle School on Monday, the second time in six days that the Las Vegas City Schools District has resorted to the extraordinary measure.

Several students complained on Monday that the odor was giving them headaches and stomach aches, and one staff member even went home sick. Some even called their parents to pick them up; however, only one student met with the school nurse, according to Superintendent Sheryl McNellis-Martinez.